Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Some Pregnancy Thoughts

1.  This baby is consuming my entire life (and my bellybutton...it is almost an outie...in fact, it's so shallow that tonight Jared said "if I couldn't swim, I would be fine").  Every ap on my iphone is a pregnancy ap, all I read are baby books and pregnancy websites, the entire time I'm at work I'm thinking about what it's going to be like to bring him home....and so on.

2.  I have an amazing husband.  He rubs my head when it hurts, scratches my tummy when it's itchy, and helps take my shoes off when I can't quite reach.  He also is always there to encourage me when I decide that I can't do this whole delivery thing.

3.  Pretty sure Scarlett has realized that I'm pregnant and isn't really liking it.  She's super anxious...even more than usual, and she won't let me leave her sight.  Her world is going to be rocked when Paxton comes home.

4.  I have started to run into things with my stomach.  It doesn't fit as nicely into booths or into bathroom stalls...and apparently I haven't realized that it sticks out a lot further...

5.  Everybody is different.  People keep looking at me with sympathy and saying things like "I bet you're just miserable" or "I bet you're just ready to get him out"...no not really at all.  I'm not sure what the next 8.5 weeks have in store but for now I'm coasting.  I'm feeling good, not really uncomfortable at all.  I am really enjoying this phase of the pregnancy.  It's great to feel him moving all the time and to be able to share that with Jared.  The other thing people always told me is how the pregnancy just drags by.  Maybe it's the fact that I was pregnant through Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's that made it go so fast...but this is flying!  I can't believe it has already been over 31 weeks.  I feel like we just found out we're having a boy.

6.  I'm ready to be in our new house so I can start "nesting".  It makes me a little nervous that we don't have anything ready for him yet.  I can't wait to get the nursery set up so I can focus on the bigger picture aspects of bringing this guy home.

7.  We have the re-shoot for the 3D/4D ultra-sound this Thursday.  Hopefully Paxton is awake...or at least asleep with his arm not blocking his face.  There are a lot of people that are really anxious to see his sweet face.  But, if he decides to block the view again, we will be content just looking at that chubby little arm and knowing that everything looks good.  We did find out at the last ultra-sound that we are still having a boy.  So that was good news.

~Caitlynne

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

I like to keep this handy... for close encounters

Last Thursday we went to Stork Vision to see Paxton in 3D.  I wasn't sure, but I was thinking the baby looked about like an ET at this point.  So, I was expecting this to be like Ridley Scott redoing Aliens in 3D.

Do you know those people who have ugly babies, and you think Man, that baby sure is ugly?  Of course, to them the baby is the cutest thing in the world.  You always tell yourself if your baby was that ugly, you  would know it.

As we went into Stork Vision to schedule the appointment I kept seeing these pictures from other people's ultrasounds that were put out on display.  They were scary looking. I began to manage my expectations right away.

Of course, I'm one of those people.  Seeing Paxton was nothing short of amazing. And, he's the cutest baby in the world - of course.

After 40 minutes of every trick in the playbook, Paxton would not move his arm.  He was kicking away, but he continued to flex his guns for 40 minutes straight without showing his face.  We are going in for a re-shoot next week.  He'll show this time because he was destined for the spotlight.

-Jared

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Baby School

Well we just got back from our first childbirth class at Mercy...it's a 4-week class that covers every aspect of the whole birth process.  It was a ton of information!!  The instructor had a life-size pelvis and a little doll and she showed us how it squeezed through....not excited. 

One thing I was surprised about were the variety of ages that were represented.  There was one girl there with her mom...she was maybe 17...and then there was a "labor partner" that had a white beard! 

In other news, Paxton weighs a little under three pounds now and is about 17 inches long.  He only has about 3 more inches to grow.  That's crazy to me!  I can tell he's much bigger because I can feel his movements everywhere, from up by my rib cage to kicking my bladder.  His new favorite trick is to curl up right under my ribs...this is definitely not my favorite because it keeps my lungs from being able to expand.  I have to push him back down which is not his favorite. 

With only 11 weeks to go, baby planning is a high priority.  We are moving at the end of the month so we will start packing and getting rid of junk soon.  No heavy lifting for me.  We also built (and learned how to use) the stroller and car seat we got for Christmas which made us feel pretty good about ourselves.
The 3D/4D ultrasound is scheduled for this Thursday so I'm sure we'll post some pictures after that!  Can't wait to see his little feet and hands....and his face!

~Caitlynne